Etymology of "mount" as in "to mount a play"?

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dorij - 30 Jan 2010 22:20 GMT

Hello,

Does anyone know how the verb "to mount" came to be used for the
actions needed to result in the presentation of a play?

Thank you in advance.
dorij

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John Varela - 31 Jan 2010 19:15 GMT

> Hello,
>
> Does anyone know how the verb "to mount" came to be used for the
> actions needed to result in the presentation of a play?

The evolution of the term is fairly obvious from the series of
definitions at

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/mount

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John Varela
Trade NEWlamps for OLDlamps for email

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CDB - 31 Jan 2010 19:23 GMT

> Does anyone know how the verb "to mount" came to be used for the
> actions needed to result in the presentation of a play?

It's related to the restricted transitive use of the word to mean
"raise, put up". "Mount" is borrowed from French, where "monter" has
a wider application in the same meaning: you can "monter une tente"
(put up a tent) as well as "monter une pièce de théâtre" (put up a
play, mount a play). The definition corresponding to the last use ,
translated, is "put together, arrange the different parts of
(something) to permit its use"; "organise, set up, combine" also seems
relevant.

Given the multiple uses of the original, "mount"may have entered
English already possessing at least the potential of being used
transitively.

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dorij - 02 Feb 2010 02:38 GMT

> > Does anyone know how the verb "to mount" came to be used for the
> > actions needed to result in the presentation of a play?
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> English already possessing at least the potential of being used
> transitively.

Thank you, CDB. That makes it clear.

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / February 2010

Etymology of "mount" as in "to mount a play"?